Pastor defies Ga. town's rules, puts up large sign

GROVETOWN, Ga. (AP) -- A pastor is standing by his decision to light up a 19,000-bulb sign in an east Georgia town in defiance of a city ordinance banning such message boards.

Sonny Serigney, the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Grovetown, tells WRDW-TV (http://bit.ly/1lwcrlg ) that the sign is an effort to honor God and spread the message of Jesus Christ.

Grovetown Mayor George James III tells the Augusta TV station that if the sign isn't removed, the matter could lead to a lawsuit.

The city had denied Serigney's request to put up the sign, which also lets passing motorists know about the church's food pantry. WRDW reports that LED signs larger than 16 square feet are not allowed under the ordinance, and city officials told the pastor that the sign didn't meet the code.